Traveling case



Aug. 9, 1932. J PLQTKIN 1,871,197

TRAVELING CAS E Filed June 23, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l J. H. PLOTKIN TRAVELING CASE Aug. 9, 1932.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 23. 1930 Patented Aug. 9, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT'OFFICE JOSEPH H. ILOTKIN, OF CHICAGO,

ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO NATIONAL BRIEF CASE MANUFACTURING 00., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS" TRAVELING CASE Application filed June 23,

My invention in one of its aspects relates to composite brief and traveling cases and has for one object the provision of such a structure with a reduced number of parts, a

simplified arrangement,'and possessing utility over such devices of the prior art. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention the composite structure is provided with a single closure flap for closing both the traveling case section and the brief case section of the structure. This flap is desirably provided upon the traveling case, but the invention is not to be thus limited. The traveling case section is desirably provided with a lid or closure individual thereto which is preferably provided with a simple latch and no lock, in which case the aforesaid flap and the brief case section of the structure are desirably provided with locking means, whereby access to the closure or lid of the traveling case section is prevented as well as access to the pockets of the brief case section; The invention in another of its aspects, relates to traveling cases having wall portions thereof continued to constitute ribs or flanges which are in protecting relation to other wall portions, this feature of the invention being of particular importance where the traveling case is formed in one unitary structure with the brief case.

In accordance with another feature of the invention the lid or closure wall portion of thetraveling case is formed with an angular continuation or lipat the edge thereof which is opposite its hinge-d edge. This lip laps the contiguous wall of said hollow casing body. The-wall and said lip are desirably provided with interengaging formations whereby the lid or closure of the traveling case may beheld shut. These interengaging formations desirably constitute the latching device hitherto spoken of and are covered by the aforesaid flap when the traveling case is embodied in a unitary structure with the brief case. The lid or closure of the travel- 1930. Serial No. 463,107.

ing case having the lip is desirably provided with two ribs that are at right angles to this lip and which are at the'end of the lid or closure and so positioned as to substantially engage the inner faces 'of' the contiguous walls of the body portion of the traveling case. These ribs serve, when the lid is closed, to prevent the lid from being shifted in its plane to the injury of the hinges and the lapping device. I

I will explain my invention more fully in connectionwith the accompanying draw-- ings in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention, the traveling case being shown open; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the structure shown in Fig. 1, but fully closed, a portion being broken away; Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view take-non a plane that is paral lel to the hinge access of the lid of the travel-- ing case; Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view taken at right angles of the direction in which Fig. 3 is taken; and Fig. 5 is a perspective view, on 'a larger scale, illustrating details of construction". f

The traveling case illustrated is inclusive of a body portion comprising'four-walls 1, 2,.

3 and 4 having rectangular arrangement and, before completionof this case, constituting a hollowv figure. This body," portion is desirably composed of suitable sheet material such as leather and'in one or more plies. One side .of this hollow 'body portion is permanently closed by a wall 5 which extends beyond the body on all sides thereof to constitute a flange 6 which is sewed to lateral continuations 7 of the body portion. The side of the hollow body portion opposite the side'that is permanently closed by the wall 5 is provided with a lid or closure wall 8 hinged to the body portion and of a size to completely close the body portion when it is closed or shut. Said lid or closure desirably is of a size to extend beyond the said hollow body portion equally to the flange 6,

a and 3 when the lid is closed.

when said lid or closure is shut. A latching device of any well known or suitable construction may be provided upon the closure 8 and the body portion, complemental elements 9 and 10 being indicated upon these two parts of the structure. When the lid is latched or otherwise maintained closed, the parts of the wall portions 5 and 8 that project beyond the hollow body portion serve as guards to protect such body portion. It is preferred to employ the wall portion 8 also as a lid or closure, but it is obvious that the lid or closure might be elsewhere provided. The.

wall portion 8, similarly to the wall portion 5, is longerand wider than the width and length of the hollow body portion and where these dimensions prevail the lid 8 would be apt to be moved out of its plane when the case is resting upon edge portions of the walls 5 and 8 when the case is closed, were it not for means for holding the cover 8 from.

shifting in its plane. As shown this means is inclusive of two ribs 11 and 12 which snugly engage the inner faces of the walls 1 The hinging between the lid 8 and the hollow body portion of the case is desirablyof the nature illustrated most clearly in Fig. t Where the marginal portion 8 of the lid that projectsbeyond the body portion to cooperate with the flange 6 in protecting such body portion is continued for hinge attachment with such-body portion as indicated at 13. The marginal portion of the lid 8 that is opposite the aforesaid hinge: portion thereof, in addition to being continued beyondthe hollow body of the case, is also angularly' deflected to form a lip 14 that laps the case wall 2 of the hollow body portion when the lid is closed. An angle iron 14, illustrated in Fig. 5, may be employed to define and maintain the position of the lid with respect to the part-that carries ity I The traveling case constructed as specifically described desirably has added thereto a brief case which preferably also includes a wall portion of the traveling case as a part thereof; In the embodiment of the invention illustrated the briefcase is carried by the hinged wall 80f the traveling'case'and upon the outer side of this wall, such wallconstituting one of the sides of one of the pockets 15 and 16 of the brief case. This pocket wall 8 of the brief case is not foldable- This is desirably alsotrue of other'walls 17 and 18 of the brief case pockets. i

The remaining walls 19 of said pockets are foldable being preferabl Y of bellows like formation. The extension of the wall 8 beyond the hollow body portion of the traveling case not only takes part in protecting such body portion, but also affords a convenient place for sewing the contiguous portions of pocket walls 19 to such cover-. i

The wall 5 is desirably continuedbeyond the part 7 that is opposite the hinge connection of the wall 8 to form a preferably flexible flap 20 which, when the lid 8 is closed, may be turned over this lid to cover and protect the latching device 9, 10 and to close the open sides of the brief case pockets 15, 16, these open pocket sides being preferably at the same marginal edge portion of the wall 8 where the lip 14 is located, that is, at the lid side which is remote from the hinge side of the lid, While the flap 20 is desirably included in a unitary structure with the traveling case, yet the invention is not to be limited to the incorporation of this lid in a unitary structure with this particular case. In order that the flap 20 may more perfectly complete its function of guarding the latch 9, 10 and serving as a closure for the brief case pockets 15, 16, I provide means whereby said flap may be locked in its protecting and closing position. To this end I preferably employ two locks each containing complemental locking members 21 and 22 that are respectivelyprovided upon the flap 20 and the outermost wall of the brief case. These locks not only hold the flap 20 in closed position, but also render it unnecessary to employ a lock for seeming the lid 8 infclosed position in which it closes the hollow body portion of the traveling case against unauthorized access. The flap 20 may also be conveniently employed for the attachment of a handle 23 to the combined traveling and brief cases, this handle being desirably furnished with tabs 24 which are preferably sewed to the flap immediately above the mid-portion of the case wall 2.

The outermost brief case pocket wall 17 is desirably substantially coextensive with the innermost wall 8 of the brief case which, as has appeared, is also a Wall ofthe traveling case and preferably the lid of such case. The capacities of. the brief case pockets 15, 16 are, thereby, made similar and the portions of the wall 8 that project beyond the hollow body portion of the traveling case are supplemented in their protecting function bythe portions of the wall 17 that also project be-' yond' said hollow body portion to an extent similar to the wall 8. a V It is apparent to those familiar with the art that linings and facings may be added-to the various portions of sheet material and structural parts 11 and 12 which are illustrated as entering into the structure of my invention. Such linings and facingshave bee-n omitted for the sake of clearness.

. Changes may be made without departing from the invention. v Having thus described my invention, I claim I V A traveling case having a hollow body open at one side, a lid hinged to one end of said body and adapted to overlie the open side thereof, said lid comprising a plurality of spaced walls, means flexibly connecting said Walls together to provide pockets opening towards the free end of said lid, whereby when the lid is swung on its hinge to 1111- cover the open side of the body the open sides of said pockets and body are accessible from the same side of the case, a flap upon the body portion of the case positioned to lap one end of the body and the open ends of the lid pockets, and means securing the flap in closed position.

In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name.

JOSEPH H. PLOTKIN. 

